The Goodness Podcast: Recent Episodes
Goodness
The Goodness Podcast was launched in January 2020 with the goal of starting an honest conversation around the topics affecting women's health.
Hosted by Noor Tehini and recorded in Dubai, it also celebrates the inspirational stories of women living in the Middle East, highlighting tales of triumph over tragedy, stories of resilience, and ones of survival, all while imparting valuable, scientifically backed advice and lived experience to its listeners.
Leen Sadder is a Dubai-based designer, founder, community builder, and one of my dearest friends. On this episode of the podcast, she discusses her decision to freeze her eggs, why it took her so long and the fears that held her back from it, and the reaction of the people around her.
One of world's biggest fitness personalities, Kelsey Wells, opens up about her healing journey, overcoming postpartum depression, managing her anxiety, overcoming body image issues, and making peace with her body.
Dr. Heather Eade is a naturopathic physician, specializing in integrative medicine in Dubai. On this episode of the podcast, she unpacks one of the most common disorders plaguing women today, polycystic ovary syndrome, and offers a refreshingly different take on the treatment of PCOS.
Haleh Nia is the founder and editor-in-chief of Savoir Flair, the Middle East's first online magazine, and founder of Halo Media, its parent company. In a rare interview, she opens up about her entrepreneurial journey, the pressures of working in the digital fashion industry, and her struggle with depression.
Mirna Sabbagh is a dietitian and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. She's also a trainer, lecturer, and mom to a 7-year-old son, Karim. On this episode of the podcast, she discusses some of the most common myths around breastfeeding and the pressure placed on new moms.
Emaan Abbass is the founder of Ketish, a new feminine wellness brand backed by beauty mogul Huda Kattan. On this episode of the podcast, she opens up about her journey with HPV and what it taught her about her body, the global stigma around sexual health, and what it was like pitching to Huda.
After a (rather long) hiatus, we're back! Season 2 of The Goodness Podcast launches this week! #TheGoodnessPodcast
Mitra Manesh is the founder of “innermap”, an innovative new mindfulness App, and the host of “Lights on”, a podcast offering support for a mindful life. She is a mindfulness thought leader, storyteller, and educator with over 3.5 decades of experience. Mitra also teaches at the UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center and has worked with the likes of Amazon and Dior.
In this second part of our chat, we hone in on the impact that this pandemic has had on our romantic relationships and how to use the science of mindfulness to mitigate that.
www.mitramanesh.com
www.instagram.com/mitramanesh_
Mitra Manesh is the founder of “innermap”, an innovative new mindfulness App, and the host of “Lights on”, a podcast offering support for a mindful life. She is a mindfulness thought leader, storyteller, and educator with over 3.5 decades of experience. Mitra also teaches at the UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center and has worked with the likes of Amazon and Dior.
In this first part of our chat, we discussed the impact that the pandemic has had on our perception of our reality and our ability to cope, as well as how to use the science of mindfulness to navigate anxiety during this time.
www.mitramanesh.com
www.instagram.com/mitramanesh_
Sophia Bakkal is a Dubai-based life coach, senior leader for Tony Robbins, co-founder of Beyond Wellness, and founder of SB Create Lasting Change. On this episode of the podcast, she's sharing her journey through multiple cancers and what each one has taught her.
www.sophiabakkal.com www.beyondwellness-group.com
Anousheh Ansari grew up in Iran before moving to the US as a teenager, where she studied electrical engineering and computer sciences. She would go on to co-found a telecommunications company, sell it for over half a billion dollars, become the first female tourist on the International Space Station, and run XPrize, which she continues to do to this day as CEO.
On this episode of the podcast, we discuss success, values, artificial intelligence, and space, amongst many other things.
Tracy Harmoush is a fitness entrepreneur based in Dubai. On this episode of the podcast, we discuss her recent engagement and how she approaches her relationship, as well as her new venture and how she's working to build the life she wants.
Omaira Farooq Al Olama is the founder of Unfiltered DXB, a new platform dedicated to celebrating diversity, inclusivity, and honesty. She is also behind Alf, an organization that helps divorced and widowed women get back into the workforce. On this episode of the podcast, she's opening up about her own experience as an Emirati divorcé and what drives her to create change in this world.
https://www.instagram.com/omairaofficial
https://www.instagram.com/unfiltereddxb
http://www.alfadministration.com/
Jo Webber is an Ayurvedic practitioner, Yoga teacher, and Master herbalist of Pukka Tea, and Cyma Hammoud is the Pukka Tea MENA Lead. They both have a wealth of knowledge on wellness and are breaking down the doshas with tips on how to live a happier, healthy life through the wisdom of Ayurveda.
This episode was created in partnership with Pukka Tea, a brand that crafts herbal creations to connect as many people as possible to the beauty and power of nature. Pukka’s purpose is to nurture healthier, happier lives through powerful organic plants. The teas are made with sustainability at their core, from the organic practitioner-grade herbs fairly and sustainably sourced from around the world to the organic cotton string used to stitch tea bags together.
Pukka Dosha Quiz: https://www.pukkaherbs.com/arabia/en/dosha-quiz.html
Mary-Justine Todd is the founder and executive director of Shamsaha, the first and only domestic and sexual violence crisis response program in the Middle East. MJ is a former international humanitarian aid worker, specializing in gender-based violence for refugees and vulnerable populations. She's joining us to discuss the work of Shamsaha, her observations on gender-based violence in the region, and the role of the media in perpetuating aggression against women.
https://shamsaha.org/
Keith Littlewood is an Independent researcher and coach based in Dubai, with a wealth of knowledge on the human body. On this episode of the podcast, we debunked some of the common myths and beliefs around calories, weight loss, the keto diet, and intermittent fasting.
https://balancedbodymind.com/
Dana Hourani is a Lebanese singer and musician. On this episode of the podcast, she recounts her early days as a recording artist, opens up about imposter syndrome, and shares her dreams for the future.
My guest on the podcast today is Haif Abdalla, a business strategist and yoga teacher living in Dubai. On this episode, she opens up about her struggles with perfectionism and her journey to embracing all the various facets of herself, and we have a blast talking about all things yoga, crystals, and meditation.
My guest on the podcast today is Dr. Shefali Verma, an integrative medicine doctor based in Dubai. She's joining me to discuss the impact of our modern lifestyles on our health, what exactly is leaky gut, how to mitigate stress, and how to supplement correctly.
My guest on the podcast today is Dr. Shefali Verma, an integrative medicine doctor based in Dubai. She's joining me to discuss the impact of our modern lifestyles on our health, what exactly is leaky gut, how to mitigate stress, and how to supplement correctly.
Dr. Carole Chidiac is a Family Medicine Specialist living in Dubai. While quarantining at home after contracting COVID, she joins us to shed some light on the virus, its long-term effects, and the various vaccine options available and shares her thoughts on why so many of us feel let down by conventional doctors.
Rania Masri ElKhatib is a mom of two and corporate powerhouse living in Dubai. Up until last month, she was Chief Transformation Officer of Chalhoub Group, one of the region's biggest fashion empires. After 2020 brought our normal lives to a screeching halt, forcing so many of us to slow down and introspect, Rania started to question her path and how fulfilled she felt. In January 2021, she announced that she would be taking a sabbatical. On this episode of the podcast, she explains what led her to this decision and how she plans on switching gears.
Luz Villamil was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 30, and it turned her world upside down. Here, she shares the hard but valuable lessons that she learned along the way.
Tilda Timmers is a therapist, author, and mom of two living in the Netherlands. Following the launch of her new book, she's sharing her personal journey, what to expect during the fourth trimester, how to deal with postpartum mental health, and how to break free of the perfect mother conspiracy.
Alaa Balkhy is a Saudi creative director working at the intersection of fashion, design, and culture. On this episode of the podcast, she shares her experience as a third-culture kid, her perception of identity, and her efforts to stay connected to and to celebrate her Middle Eastern roots.
Anisha Oberoi launched Secret Skin, an e-commerce discovery platform for sustainable beauty, after recovering from a battle with breast cancer. On this episode of the podcast, she shares what she learned after many years working at Amazon, some insights into starting your own business (in 2020 no less), how to overcome entrepreneurial doubt and imposter syndrome, and how to maintain some semblance of balance in your life when you’re just starting out.
One brave woman shares the story of how she overcame emotional abuse in her marriage and made it out stronger.
This story was first published on Goodness' website on October 2, 2019.
Maria Abi Hanna is a registered dietitian living in Dubai. She has been practicing for over ten years and specializes in eating disorders, the no-diet approach, and intuitive eating.
Ahead of Christmas and the holiday season, she’s joining me to break down the main principles of intuitive eating and tips to navigate the holiday season with as little guilt as possible.
Dr. Sandrine Atallah, a consultant in sexual medicine and certified psychosexologist, has really been breaking boundaries in the Arab World and pushing the limits of what is and isn’t discussed when it comes to sex. On this episode of the podcast, she's breaking down sex in long-term relationships, discussing the unrealistic expectations that we carry around this topic, and sharing helpful tips.
Sandra Sharpe is a functional medicine health coach living in Dubai. She works with women who have hormonal imbalances, including PCOS, PMS, and thyroid problems, educating and empowering them to take control of their health.
Sandra Sharpe is a functional medicine health coach and former fitness trainer living in Dubai. Earlier this year, she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, which forced her to take a closer look at her lifestyle and definition of health. This is her story of recovery and what she learned along the way.
Dina Ghandour is a Dubai-based yogi and certified Doula. Through her work, she provides educational, practical, and emotional support to parents by offering childbirth education, assisting at the birth through hands-on comfort measures, and sharing postnatal support with regards to such things as breastfeeding counseling, sleep advice, mother and baby care, and much more.
On this episode of the podcast, she's explaining exactly what a Doula is and does, busting some common birth myths, sharing tips for a supportive birth environment, and discussing the shame and judgement that many women experience during this time.
When The Goodness Podcast host Noor Tehini first met Layla Kardan, she was still working a corporate job and dipping her toes into the music industry. Today, she’s a recording artist with an international following. On this episode of the podcast, we caught up with Layla about her journey and we discussed everything from Cardi B’s WAP single to the crystals she uses to protect her energy.
In honor of Wold Mental Health Week, we've teamed up with Lululemon, Dani Hakim of Safe Space, and Lululemon Ambassador and yogi Neha Duseja to talk about mental health. Together, they're busting some of the most common myths around meditation and sharing the most transformative moments on their personal journeys.
This podcast was created in collaboration with Lululemon.
Marianne Tafani is a Pilates instructor known in the UAE as the "core strength guru". Three years ago, she gave birth to her first son, Adam, but things did not go to plan. Marianne had decided on a natural birth, but an unfortunate series of events and neglect on behalf of her care providers resulted in a traumatic experience.
Warning: This episode may be triggering to you if you’ve had a negative childbirth experience, but you might also find her advice to be helpful.
Dr. Sheetal Kini is a clinical psychologist at Dubai’s Lighthouse Center who specializes in relationship therapy. On this episode of the podcast, she discusses modern marriages, why they’re so challenging, and how to start thinking about and working on your relationship differently.
Topics covered include: - What makes for the ideal secure relationship - The different attachment styles and how they impact your relationship - How to reconnect - The importance of sex - The challenge of monogamy - Taking a break from your marriage - New models of marriage
Dr. Sheetal Kini is a clinical psychologist at Dubai’s Lighthouse Center who specializes in relationship therapy. On this episode of the podcast, she discusses modern marriages, why they’re so challenging, and how to start thinking about and working on your relationship differently.
Topics covered include: - Solving gridlocked problems - The link between personal problems and marital problems - The issue with the soulmate narrative - Dealing with each other’s scars - How much compromise is too much compromise - Understanding the duty mindset - Why people stay together when things aren’t working
Dr. Sheetal Kini is a clinical psychologist at Dubai’s Lighthouse Center who specializes in relationship therapy. On this episode of the podcast, she discusses modern marriages, why they’re so challenging, and how to start thinking about and working on your relationship differently.
Topics covered include: - Defining modern marriage - What is right to expect of a partner - The importance of identifying your non-negotiables - Why marriages succeed or fail - The issue of gridlocked problems
On August 4, 2020, the unthinkable happened. 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate, stored in the port of Beirut, exploded, destroying a large part of the city, killing dozens, wounding hundreds, and leaving hundreds of thousands homeless. The country is left traumatized, with no one taking responsibility for this crime, no government support on the streets, and the people having to rely on themselves and each other.
We're joined by Dr. Nick Wakefield today, a clinical psychologist at Dubai’s Lighthouse Center who specializes in trauma and PTSD, to discuss the impact of the Beirut explosion on the Lebanese people, be they in Lebanon or around the world.
Artist, activist, and entrepreneur Elissa Freiha is the founder of Womena, a platform that aims to support the entrepreneurship ecosystem in our region by empowering and educating women investors and entrepreneurs. On this episode of the podcast, we discuss self-love, self-doubt, authenticity, and what it means to stand for women empowerment in a man's world.
How has being together 24/7 impacted our romantic relationships? Why are so many of us fighting all the time? How do we work our way out of this rut?
Najla Moussa is a longtime Goodness collaborator, as well as the creator of relationship blog Truly Madly Honestly. On this episode of the podcast, she's discussing the impact of the pandemic on relationships and sharing practical tips to fight better, reconnect, and survive this unprecedented time.
Lana Al Mulla is a yogi, nutritional therapist, and entrepreneur. After suffering from depression, anxiety, and chronic illnesses for years, she embarked on a healing journey that forced her to tackle the physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of her life. She has since dabbled in everything from herbology to Reiki healing, and she’s a wealth of knowledge on holistic living and healing yourself. We got to talking about her personal journey, her favorite rituals, and her upcoming spiritual course.
How can parents manage their children's emotions? How can they communicate and work with their partner? And what steps can parents take to care for themselves during this time?
Dr. Saliha Afridi is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of The Lighthouse, a center for wellbeing based in Dubai. She’s also a mother, which makes her the perfect person to ask about parenting during the Coronavirus pandemic.
Anum Bashir's experience in the fashion industry spans all the way from content creator to brand consultant to buyer and fashion director to creative director of Georgian brand N-Duo. Most recently, Anum has started representing Sonam Kapoor and managing her partnerships in the MENA region. On today’s episode, we’re discussing her journey, as well as how she found her way and voice in a notoriously difficult industry.
On this episode of the podcast, Shayanne Salama, mom to six-year-old Marwan and a holistic practitioner living in Dubai, shares an honest account of what it’s like to get divorced in your early thirties with a young child.
Dr. Maha Nasrallah-Babenko, a therapist trained in sex and relationships, shares the most common issues she observed between couples while practicing in the Middle East.
Nothing can prepare you for a cancer diagnosis, let alone a series of unfortunate events that include extreme complications from your cancer treatment, years of additional surgeries, and being away from your family. This is Petrina Barber's story of strength, resilience, and finding peace in the face of the unthinkable.
Dr. Lanalle Dunn, a Naturopathic Doctor, Medical Director, Buddhist, and surfer (amongst many other things), is a wealth of knowledge on holistic health. On this episode of the podcast, she explains her approach to wellness.
Helen Williams, a counselor, psychotherapist, and mindfulness teacher with decades of experience, joins us to talk about how to manage fear and anxiety through mindfulness amidst the current coronavirus pandemic.
This episode of the podcast was very much an unplanned one. Our first season was only supposed to be 10 episodes long, but given the situation we find ourselves in, we figured this was a conversation that needed to be had.
Our guest on the podcast today is Dr. Aarti Javeri Mehta, a specialist internal medicine and American board-certified doctor in lifestyle medicine, who is joining us to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Goodness Podcast host, Noor Tehini, is joined by three women on the rise to celebrate International Women's Day in collaboration with Puma. Harriett Stewart is a director of sales and marketing at one of the leading event and entertainment technology companies in the GCC by day and an entrepreneur by night, Aisha Almohtadi is the co-founder of Mad Juice, one of the coolest creative agencies in town, and Marina Anic is Brand Marketing Manager at Puma and part of the High Beams Run Crew & Sound System in Dubai.
Dr. Carine El Khazen, a psychologist specializing in the treatment of eating disorders and the Vice President of MEEDA, joins us on the podcast this week to discuss the rise of eating disorders and body dissatisfaction in the Middle East and what we can do about it.
Maryam Ghouth is a Saudi storyteller and shadow worker living in Dubai. On this episode of the podcast, she shares how the human experience informs her art and how she works to help people get to know the darker sides of their identity.
Georgie Bradley, a journalist living in Dubai, opens up about how her job in the local media industry drove her to burnout and led to the resurgence of an eating disorder she had been battling for years.
When Caroline Labouchere's husband lost his job in Dubai, she found herself sleeping on a mattress on the floor of a friend's house, unable to afford her antidepressants and pushing all of her friends away. This is the story of how she finally took control of her life and turned it around at the age of 53.
On this episode of The Goodness Podcast, Dubai-based relationship counselor and coach Nicola Beer talks about the most common marital issues she’s seeing in the region, plus how she helps couples stay together through infidelity, communication issues, and more.
One year after the birth of her daughter, Sarah Malki opens up about her struggles with postpartum anxiety and depression, as well as what helped her get through it.
Najla Moussa is a longtime Goodness collaborator and colleague, as well as the creator of relationship blog Truly Madly Honestly. On this episode of the podcast, she's sharing the tips she's learned along the way, from both experience and her work with the Gottman Institute, to build a stronger marriage.
Florence Gillet, an Eating Psychology Coach living in Dubai, opens up to Goodness about her struggles with orthorexia, hypothalamic amenorrhea, and her road to recovery.
Caroline Leon was a young newlywed living in Dubai when she fell from the top of a climbing wall, unharnessed. This is her story of mental and physical recovery.